Hide or Show File Explorer Ribbon in Windows 10  

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    Hide or Show File Explorer Ribbon in Windows 10

    Hide or Show File Explorer Ribbon in Windows 10

    How to Hide or Show Ribbon in Windows 10 File Explorer
    Published by Category: Customization
    07 Jul 2020
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Hide or Show Ribbon in Windows 10 File Explorer


    You can use the ribbon in File Explorer for common tasks, such as copying and moving, creating new folders, emailing and zipping items, and changing the view. The tabs change to show extra tasks that apply to the selected item.

    Users can select to show (expand) the Ribbon so that it is always expanded even after you click a command on the Ribbon, or select to hide (minimize) the Ribbon to show only the tab names on the Ribbon.

    Administrators can specify how the ribbon appears the first time users open File Explorer and whenever they open new File Explorer windows.

    This tutorial will show you different ways to hide or show the Ribbon in File Explorer for your account or all users in Windows 10.


    Contents

    • Option One: To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account using Keyboard Shortcut
    • Option Two: To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account from Ribbon Tab Bar
    • Option Three: To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account from Ribbon Arrow
    • Option Four: To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account from QAT
    • Option Five: To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account using REG file
    • Option Six: To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
    • Option Seven: To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for All Users using REG file



    EXAMPLE: Ribbon in File Explorer
    Hide or Show File Explorer Ribbon in Windows 10-file_explorer_ribbon.png




    OPTION ONE

    To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account using Keyboard Shortcut


    Option Six and Option Seven will override this option.


    1 While in File Explorer (Win+E), press the Ctrl + F1 keys to toggle to expand (show - default) or minimize (hide) the Ribbon.






    OPTION TWO

    To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account from Ribbon Tab Bar


    Option Six and Option Seven will override this option.


    1 While in File Explorer (Win+E), do step 2 (hide) or step 3 (show) for what you would like to do.


     2. To Always Show Ribbon in File Explorer

    This is the default setting.

    A) Right click or press and hold on an empty area of the Ribbon tab bar, and click/tap on Minimize the Ribbon to uncheck it. (see screenshot below)

    Hide or Show File Explorer Ribbon in Windows 10-tab_bar_expand_ribbon.png


     3. To Always Hide Ribbon in File Explorer

    A) Right click or press and hold on an empty area of the Ribbon tab bar, and click/tap on Minimize the Ribbon to check it. (see screenshot below)

    Hide or Show File Explorer Ribbon in Windows 10-tab_bar_minimize_ribbon.png






    OPTION THREE

    To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account from Ribbon Arrow


    Option Six and Option Seven will override this option.


    1 While in File Explorer (Win+E), do step 2 (hide) or step 3 (show) for what you would like to do.


     2. To Always Show Ribbon in File Explorer

    This is the default setting.

    A) Click/tap on the down arrow in the toolbar. (see screenshot below)

    Hide or Show File Explorer Ribbon in Windows 10-expand_ribbon.png


     3. To Always Hide Ribbon in File Explorer

    A) Click/tap on the up arrow in the toolbar. (see screenshot below)

    Hide or Show File Explorer Ribbon in Windows 10-minimize_ribbon.png






    OPTION FOUR

    To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account from QAT


    Option Six and Option Seven will override this option.


    1 While in File Explorer (Win+E), do step 2 (hide) or step 3 (show) for what you would like to do.


     2. To Always Show Ribbon in File Explorer

    This is the default setting.

    A) Click/tap on the Customize Quick Access Toolbar menu arrow, and click/tap on Minimize the Ribbon to uncheck it. (see screenshot below)

    Hide or Show File Explorer Ribbon in Windows 10-qat_expand_ribbon.png


     3. To Always Hide Ribbon in File Explorer

    A) Click/tap on the Customize Quick Access Toolbar menu arrow, and click/tap on Minimize the Ribbon to check it. (see screenshot below)

    Hide or Show File Explorer Ribbon in Windows 10-qat_minimize_ribbon.png






    OPTION FIVE

    To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account using REG file


    Option Six and Option Seven will override this option.

    The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORDs in the registry keys below.

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Ribbon

    (When Tablet Mode off)
    MinimizedStateTabletModeOff DWORD

    0 = Always show (expand)
    1 = Always hide (minimize)

    (When Tablet Mode on)
    MinimizedStateTabletModeOn DWORD

    0 = Always show (expand)
    1 = Always hide (minimize)


    1 Do step 2 (show) or step 3 (hide) below for what you would like to do.


     2. To Always Show Ribbon in File Explorer

    This is the default setting.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below you want to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

    (When Tablet Mode off)
    Expand_Ribbon_in_File_Explorer.reg

    Download

    AND/OR

    (When Tablet Mode on)
    Expand_Ribbon_in_File_Explorer_in_Tablet_Mode.reg

    Download


     3. To Always Hide Ribbon in File Explorer

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below you want to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

    (When Tablet Mode off)
    Minimize_Ribbon_in_File_Explorer.reg

    Download

    AND/OR

    (When Tablet Mode on)
    Minimize_Ribbon_in_File_Explorer_in_Tablet_Mode.reg

    Download


    4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    7 If File Explorer is currently open, close and open it to apply.

    8 If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.






    OPTION SIX

    To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor


    You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.

    The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. All editions can use Option Seven below.

    This option will affect all users on the PC, and will override options 1 to 5 above.


    1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

    2 Navigate to the location below in the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

    Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer

    Hide or Show File Explorer Ribbon in Windows 10-ribbon_gpedit-1.png

    3 In the right pane of the File Explorer folder, double click/tap on Start File Explorer with Ribbon minimized to edit it. (see screenshot above)

    4 Do step 5 (specify policy) or step 6 (default) below for what you would like to do.


     5. To Specify Policy to Show or Hide Ribbon in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Select (dot) Enabled, select the setting you want under Options, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below step 6)


     6. To Restore Default Settings to Let Users Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer

    A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below)

    Not configured is the default setting.

    Hide or Show File Explorer Ribbon in Windows 10-ribbon_gpedit-2.png

    7 You can now close Local Group Policy Editor if you like.






    OPTION SEVEN

    To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for All Users using REG file


    You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.

    This option does the same thing as Option Six above. It will affect all users on the PC, and will override options 1 to 5 above.

    The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD in the registry key below.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

    ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized DWORD

    0 or delete = Not configured (default)
    1 = Always open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized
    2 = Never open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized
    3 = Minimize the ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time
    4 = Display the full ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time


    1 Do step 2 (not configured), step 3 (always hide), step 4 (always show), step 5 (always hide 1st time), or step 6 (always show 1st time) below for what you would like to do.


     2. To Specify Not Configured to Allow Users to Hide or Show Ribbon

    This is the default setting.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Allow_Users_to_Start_File_Explorer_with_Ribbon_minimized_or_expanded.reg

    Download


     3. To Always open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Always_Open_new_File_Explorer_windows_with_Ribbon_minimzed.reg

    Download


     4. To Never open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Never_Open_new_File_Explorer_windows_with_Ribbon_minimzed.reg

    Download


     5. To Minimize the ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Minimize_Ribbon_when_File_Explorer_opened_first_time.reg

    Download


     6. To Display the full ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Display_full_Ribbon_when_File_Explorer_opened_first_time.reg

    Download


    7 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    8 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    9 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    10 If File Explorer is currently open, close and open it to apply.

    11 If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn



  1. Posts : 45
    win7, win10, winxp
       #1

    Thank you. modifying the registry seems to have worked.

    Why does Microsoft make it so difficult to turn off this execrable UI nuisance?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    You're most welcome pzbrawl. I'm glad it could help in your thread below. :)

    LOSE the infuriating ribbon in win10
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 7
    Win10
       #3

    Is there a way to get back to the good old file explorer? I hate the ribbon with a very rare passion. It represents everything that is wrong with user testing today. In fact I also hate windows 10 with all its interference and bugs. I want an OS that sits in the background and just does its job and does not spy on me.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 17,838
    Windows 10
       #4

    thomasdahl said:
    ...Is there a way to get back to the good old file explorer?......
    "Old/New Explorer" Google it.

    Hide or Show File Explorer Ribbon in Windows 10-000131.png

    Hide or Show File Explorer Ribbon in Windows 10-000132.png
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 7
    Win10
       #5

    Thank you.. I will try to find it.

    I managed to at least kill Cortana with a registry hack. Windows 10 is being tamed and brought back to earth (and productivity).
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 575
    Windows 11 Pro
       #6

    For me Sets has affected the way File Explorer ribbon behaves. I used to have to open it once after an upgrade but now I am having to open it ever time I open File Explorer.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Same here.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 575
    Windows 11 Pro
       #8

    Well that is disappointing. Turning Sets off and restarting does not help either.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Hopefully, MS will get it fixed in the next build. Be sure to send feedback.
      My Computers


 

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